Chocolate Covered Strawberry from Neighborhood – Food Variety 9

Fig 01- Strawberries covered by chocolate decorations

From internet searches, the prices of Chocolate Covered Strawberries are very varies. No price below US$ 1 each.

The most common prices range from US$ 15 to US$ 25 per a half dozen (6 pieces). Quite expensive for me.

Our neighborhood sells Chocolate Covered Strawberries with little bit lower than market prices, but still expensive for me:

- a half dozen (6 pieces) for $12; and a dozen (12 pieces) for $24

- a half dozen (6 pieces) for $15 infused with alcohol; a dozen (12 pieces) for $30 infused with alcohol.

I wonder, why are Chocolate Covered Strawberries so expensive?

The reasons might relate to:

- public perception as a “luxury” goods.

- highly demand

- chocolate is shorten life, thus, must be removed from store shelves quicker.

Fig 02- Chocolate covered three strawberries

Chocolates are good to keep them in the refrigerator, but it is no problem for 10 hours at room temperature.

Fig 03- several designs of chocolate covered strawberries.

In addition to strawberries, other fruits are suitable as well to be covered by chocolates.

Slices of some fruits which could be covered by chocolates:

- figs

- pears

- banana

- mango

- any other sweet fruits.

Have you tasted chocolate covered strawberry or any other fruit? What do you think?

The Origin of Cup Cake – Food Variety 8

 

Three cup cakes with 3 different decorations.

Honestly, I just realized lately that there is different between two similar form of cakes:

- muffin

- cup cake

It is said that a cup cake is the perfect dessert for lunch or dinner. Its small size is created to serve for one person.

Like other larger cakes, cup cakes are decorated with many items, just for examples:

- fresh fruit

- candy

- chocolate

- ganache

- sugar cage

- caramel ribbons

Similar cup cakes on the table.

I just read from some sources, standard ingredients are used to bake cup cakes includes:

- butter

- sugar

- flour

- eggs

Historically, the cup cake has been consumed in America since 1796 or might be early, more than 200 years ago.

Its name originally was 1234 cakes or called as the number cake, refer to portions of its four basic well known ingredients:

- 1 cup of butter

- 2 cups of sugar

- 3 cups of flour

- 4 eggs

In addition to four basic, people may use other two ingredients:

- 1 cup of milk

- 1 spoon of soda

Which one do you like: cup cakes or muffin?

Late Harvest of Satsuma Orange in the Yard - Food Variety 7

Fig 01- A ripe Satsuma orange

We have just one tree of Satsuma orange, harvest time was between October to November each year.

Due to uncertain weather, the harvest quite late and bad compared to previous years.

However, in many places, Satsuma seasons are between October to early December, and we may see plenty of them sold in the groceries around December.

Farmers sold their Satsuma oranges between December to January both in the farmer markets, and occasionally in the farm.

Prices are varies between groceries and farmer markets:

- about US$ 2 per pound (½ kg) in groceries

- we saw US$ 1 per pound in some farmer markets

- less than USS 1 per pound in the farm.

Fig 02- Some fruits hang on the branches.

Our Satsuma tree produced less and less fruit since few years ago. The main concern is diseases. We called as a “white spot” diseases.

Fig 03- Two fruits of Satsuma

Several other “well known” diseases may infect Satsuma orange trees are:

1) Bacterial diseases

- one kind of bacteria may cause leaves to curl, dry up and then drop. This bacteria infects tree in the winter and spring seasons.

2) Mandarin Rind Disorder

- I saw brown and sunken areas on the fruit skin, look like fungi diseases. Yes, it occurs during heavy rain time of Fall season.

3) Botrytis Diseases

- This is fungi diseases. I always see white or gray spores on the leaves. They appeared when tree is bearing “baby” fruits, before rain seasons (before Autumn).

Finally, have you tasted Satsuma orange?

Are Raw Peanuts Good for Health? - Food Variety 6

 

Fig 01- Peanuts without shell, ready to consume

We always buy green peanut during spring and summer at farmer market, then we boiled them at home.

In the fall, raw peanuts only are sold by farmer market. I think the raw peanuts are peanuts in the shell, harvested from ground.

These peanuts are ready for:

- blending

- grinding or powdering

- roasting

- salting

- drying

- glazing (with honey)

Fig 02- Peanuts with shells in the plastic bag

In addition to boiled peanuts, I think I love to consume drying and bake peanuts. Both contain equal amount of:

- protein

- fat

- carbs

Fig 03- Price of green peanuts in the farmer market

The peanuts also rich in nutrients, contain more than minerals and vitamins include:

- potassium

- phosphorous

- magnesium

- B vitamins.

It is recommended to consume peanuts per day with amount of:

- 1 to 2 ounces of raw peanuts

- 2 tablespoons of peanut butter

Do you like to eat peanuts? What type of peanut you like: raw or processing?

Do You Know a Prickly Cactus Pear? - Food Variety 5

Two of the sweet cactus pears

We just noticed in one of our city groceries “a pear like fruit” on the shelf. The size and shape look like the same with a green pear at glance.

It is called a Prickly Cactus Pear or a sweet cactus pear, with scientific name is Oppuntia engelmanni.

The Prickly Cactus Pears are found a lot in the country or regions of:

- Mexico

- USA

- Africa

- Mediterranean areas

- West Indies (the Caribbean islands)

- other regions of arid and semiarid

Some countries grow the fruit for commercial purposes, as an important income source of farmers.

The Prickly Cactus Pears on the grocery shelf

Like green pear, the Prickly Cactus Pears is sweet and may be consumed at raw stage.

The taste is similar to other fruits such as:

- strawberry

- raspberry

It is said that the cactus pear is a healthy fruit. Its contains:

- antioxidants

- fiber

- carotenoids.

Finally, do You Know and have tasted a Prickly Cactus Pear? 

Do You Like to Grill Fish? - Food Variety 4

Marinated fish with certain seasoning, ready to grill

We prefer to fry fish than to grill it. We sometimes make curry with fish, one of our favorites.

Very rare, we grill fish, usually in the Summer season. From internet, top five favorite fish to grill in the USA are:

- Salmon

- Swordfish

- Tuna

- Snapper

- Mahi mahi

We might wonder: what is Mahi mahi?

It is a fish from Hawaii with scientific name Coryphaena hippurus. Another name is Dorado in Spanish.

In fact, Mahi mahi not only found in Hawaii, but also in tropical and subtropical oceans all over the world.

One of fish, live fish is good for grill.

Favorite fish is not big deal for us. We tried to consume many species of fish as mentioned in previous posts such as:

- Do You Know these by Catching Fish Species?

- Why Consuming Trash Fish could Help Environmental Protection?

To grill fish, we need fish to be seasoned. We just have simple ones or combination of:

- garlic

- olives

- lemon zest

- soy sauce

- chili flakes.

- parmesan cheese

Do you like to grill or barbecue fish? Do you have any favor of fish species?

Harvest Fresh Chili from the Pot Routinely - Food Variety 3

Fig 01- A Chili tree in the wood box

We may not able to avoid chili in daily live, it is because chilis are every where whether we aware or not.

Chili could be consumed in fresh form (chopped or sliced) or in many other forms such as:

- sauces

- seasoning

- dressing

- spice powder

Quite surprising for me that there are 4,000 chili varieties in the world. The plant is native to South America region.

These spices are fruit, not vegetable. They are grown and traded since 6,000 years ago.

Fig 02- Green chili

People have grown chili in almost all part of the world today. Top countries to produce chili are following:

- China, produces about 16.1 million tonnes per year.

- Mexico, 2.7 million tonnes

- Turkey, 2.1 million tonnes.

- Indonesia, 1.9 tonnes.  

Fig 03- Red chili, just for illustration

In term of scientific name, chili includes in genus Capsicum with five main species:

- Capsicum annuum.

- Capsicum baccatum.

- Capsicum chinense.

- Capsicum frutescens.

- Capsicum pubescens.

We have chili trees in our backyard. Easy to maintain or take care. We harvest its almost every day and use its as food seasonings. Very fresh.

Do you love chili? What kind of chili do you like?

Have you Tried Rainbow Baby Carrot? - Food Variety 2

 

Fig 01- Multi colors of baby carrots

We just notice what is called “rainbow baby carrots” in the grocery recently. It is said the products actually appear in the market since 2015. We did not know about it.

The rainbow baby carrot is multiple colors baby carrots within the 340 gram package. They have 6 different colors:

- deep orange

- burgundy red

- deep purple

- tangerine

- yellow

- white

The carrot is an organic product which are cut, peeled and washed, thus ready to be consumed.

Fig 02- A bag of rainbow baby carrots

Yes, the baby carrots are crunch, and be eaten as salad or appetizers with other vegetables.

I think the taste is no different between a rainbow baby carrot and other normal orange baby carrots.

Fig 03- Baby carrots on the plate

Both standard carrots and rainbow baby carrots are healthy. They contain vitamin A, beta and alpha carotene pigments.

These pigments (beta and alpha carotene) may promote body to produce vitamin A. As we know this vitamin is good for our eyes.

Some people love purple baby carrots. In fact purple carrots contain:

- twice of beta and alpha carotene pigments compared to orange carrots.

- antioxidant, namely anthocyanins

Have you eaten rainbow baby carrots? What color do you love?

Have you Tasted Red Pear? - Food Variety 1

Two red pears in the bowl, ready to consume.

We just visited farmer market last week, and we noticed red pears on the shelf. Honestly, our first time to see the red pears.

By Googling, we know there are three varieties of this red pear:

- Starkrimson

- Red bartlett

- Red s’Anjou

Unfortunately, we did not know the variety of red pear which we bought. However, one of variety called as Red s’Anjou was from Oregon, USA.

By searching through internet, no red pear in Europe. The above 3 varieties could be found in Canada. Other varieties are:

- Red sensation

- Reimer red

Red pears sold in the farmer market

It is reported that there are at least two varieties of red pear in Australia:

- Red s’Anjou

- Red Sensation

Moreover, the red pears come to the market between August and December in the USA, especially in our neighborhood farmer market.

I don’t know the harvest seasons in the Canada and Australia. I guess from late August to late fall.

In respect to taste, I think, after ripe that red pears have soft texture, juicy and sweet compared to green pears.

Do you know the red pear? Have you tasted it? What do you think?